Hibiscus plant named ‘Cajun Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Cajun Wind’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical plant habit that is appropriate for container production; glossy and dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; bright red-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; good resistance to flower bud abscission during shipping; and tolerance to pathogens common to  Hibiscus  grown under Florida production conditions.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Cajun Wind’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Cajun Wind’.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is tocreate new freely-branching Hibiscus cultivars with a dense, uniform andcompact plant habit appropriate for container production, early anduniform flowering, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flowercolor and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hibiscus originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Alva, Fla. in late 1998, of a proprietary Hibiscusrosa-sinensis selection, designated as code number YB-1562, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Hibiscusrosa-sinensis selection, designated as code number YB-1629, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Cajun Wind wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment inAlva, Fla., on Sep. 25, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by vegetative terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. since February, 2001, hasshown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Cajun Wind has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Cajun Wind’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Cajun Wind’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical        plant habit that is appropriate for container production.    -   2. Glossy and dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Bright red-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers.    -   5. Good resistance to flower bud abscission during shipping.    -   6. Tolerant to pathogens common to Hibiscus grown under Florida        production conditions.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the proprietary Hibiscus selection code number YB-1562. Plantsof the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the female parent selection inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have larger flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have brighter red-colored flowers        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent,the proprietary Hibiscus selection code number YB-1629. Plants of thenew Hibiscus differ from plants of the male parent selection in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus flower about one week earlier than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection        differ in flower coloration as plants of the male parent        selection have orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscuscultivar Brilliant Red, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plantsof the cultivar Brilliant Red in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Brilliant Red.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Brilliant Red.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus flowered about two weeks earlier        than plants of the cultivar Brilliant Red.    -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus had brighter red-colored flowers        than plants of the cultivar Brilliant Red.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view offive typical flowering plants of ‘Cajun Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Cajun Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in Alva, Fla., with five plants per 16.5-cmcontainer in polyethylene-covered greenhouses during the late summerunder conditions which closely approximate commercial production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16 to 37° C.and night temperatures ranged from 13 to 26° C. Plants were about fourmonths old when the photographs and the description were taken. In thedescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Cajun    Wind.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis designated as code number YB-1562, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis designated as code number YB-1629, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°            C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of            24° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Somewhat freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,            outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical plant            habit; inverted triangle. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about four            lateral branches develop after removal of terminal apex.        -   Plant height.—About 32 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 48 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 29 cm. Diameter:            About 6 mm. Internode length: About 2.9 cm. Strength:            Strong, but flexible. Texture: Immature, pubescent; mature,            woody and rough. Color: Immature: Close to 146A. Mature:            Close to 197A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, single;            numerous; symmetrical. Length: About 9.1 cm. Width: About            8.3 cm. Shape: Ovate to cordate. Apex: Acute; typically            reflexed. Base: Cordate. Margin: Crenate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth to sparsely pubescent; rough;            leathery. Luster, upper surface: Glossy. Luster, lower            surface: Somewhat glossy. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color:            Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker            green than 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: Close to 147A. Venation, upper surface: 147A            to darker green than 147A. Venation, lower surface: Close to            147A to darker green than 146A. Petiole: Length: About            4.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 147A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 146A to 147A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf            axils. Freely flowering with usually about three to four            flower buds and/or open flowers per terminal apex. Flowers            face upright to outwardly.        -   Flower appearance.—Rounded, bright red-colored flowers with            dark red-colored centers. Flowers are open for about one to            two days. Flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or            during periods of warm weather.        -   Flower bud (before stage of showing color).—Resistance to            abscission during shipping: Plants of the new Hibiscus have            been observed to resist flower bud drop when stored in a            closed box for 5 days at 13° C. Length: About 1.9 cm.            Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 12 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 8.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that            are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 7.6 cm.            Width: About 5.7 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate to spatulate.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; somewhat            ruffled. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous, satiny; center, waxy. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 44A; center, darker            than 46A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 43A.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About            1.3 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth; waxy. Texture, lower            surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to            146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.        -   Flower bracts.—Appearance: About six fused at base. Length:            About 1.3 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Sharply acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely            pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 147A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.75 cm. Diameter: About 2.25 mm.            Angle: Straight to slightly bent. Strength: Strong,            flexible. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 50. Filament length: About 4.5 mm. Filament color:            Close to 53A. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther size: About 2            mm by 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 185A. Amount of pollen:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Pistil            length: About 8.2 cm. Style length: About 6.3 cm. Style            texture: Smooth, waxy. Style color: Close to 45D; towards            the base, close to 46A to 45A to 45B. Stigma appearance:            Five, rounded. Stigma color: Close to 46A. Ovary color:            Close to 144A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from 0 to 38° C.-   Disease/pest tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under    Florida production conditions have shown to be relatively tolerant    to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and    Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to    be tolerant to pests and other pathogens.

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Cajun Wind’, as illustratedand described.